St. Catharines the city of… Love?

Ah, St. Catharines: the city of love. Well, it’s the city of struggling students and vegan donuts, but that sounds like love to me! When it comes to Valentine’s day, I feel like there’s a general tendency to take one’s partners one the next Megabus to Niagara Falls, but there’s plenty of romantic gestures to be made without going much further than downtown! Below is a day plan for a great time for you and your loved one, all while keeping the cost down as well!

The weather isn’t the greatest this time of year, but if you’re willing to brave the snow (and take a bit of a hike), you’d do well to take the trip down to DeCew Falls. Though there’s a much fancier and more popular waterfall not far from here, DeCew Falls is a little quieter, and much more intimate. Niagara is a tourist hotspot, but DeCew feels like a well kept secret, and if you’re the type that likes to spend days like this in the peace and quiet, with only the very best of company, it’d be hard to beat this spot.

If you’re looking for variety, you might want to try out a few of the more interesting shops and places downtown. There’s plenty of vintage clothing stores to peruse, and there’s at least one little store for every niche interest you and your partner may have. Personal favourites of mine are the Mindbomb independent record store, the British Boutique, for all of your Valentine’s chocolates (British candy is way better than Canadian, trust me on this one), but there’s plenty to explore, and it won’t be as crowded as the Pen.

What’s a Valentine’s Day without food? Luckily, our beautiful city is able to deliver! Pop into Beechwood donuts for a romantic snack, head into Mahtay Cafe for an intimate drink (they have as wide a selection of teas as they do alcohol), or head over to anywhere from Rise Above to Johnny Rocco’s to The Keg for a perfect little meal for two. You really are spoiled for choice when it comes to food in this area, so no matter what you and your partner fancy, you won’t be coming up short.

But what about the evening? This is a city of culture; you’re sure to find something! Jazz pianist Michael Kaeshammer is performing at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre on the evening of February 14. Fifty Shades Freed and The Shape of Water are being screened at the Landmark at the Pen Centre. Warehouse will be hosting the delightful singer-songwriter, Craig Cardiff. Throughout the week there’ll also be Mahtay’s Open Mic Night, and a great selection of acts at both Warehouse and the FirstOntario PAC.

The point is, you won’t be short of things to do. You can do all of these things, or you can do none of them and just put on Netflix and light some scented candles. Either way, the city is your playground, and there’s plenty of places for you to see with the person that means the most to you. So don’t waste it!